Metro State University Women Veterans and Service Members “Build Your Dream” Day

St. Paul, Minn. (July 28, 2015) — Metropolitan State University joins with leaders in the entrepreneurship and veterans communities to present the “Build Your Dream, Entrepreneurship-Passion, Innovation, and Prosperity” workshop. This experience for women veterans and service members offers participants exposure to career paths in entrepreneurship and innovation, whether in a business start-up or as an innovation manager in an existing organization.

The daylong workshop, Saturday, Aug. 8, is designed to provide information, motivation, and inspiration to enhance quality of life and career options for women veterans and service members. Participants will gain information on entrepreneurship from leaders in the field; explore how their skills and experience transfers to this new path; and hear from two panels of successful women veteran entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities. SCORE, Women Business Development Center, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, MNPTAC, Metro State Veterans Network and Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs and other entrepreneurship and veteran organizations have served as the core coordination team for this initiative.

“This is a perfect example of how contributions from the community really can make a difference, serve unmet community needs, and build collaboration with the entrepreneurship, business and veterans communities,” said Dr. Kat Lui, dean of the College of Management at Metropolitan State University.

Metropolitan State University’s “Build Your Dream Day” is provided through tremendous collaboration and support from both community stakeholders and resources. The workshop was initiated because of statewide interest in supporting women, entrepreneurs, and veterans. Metropolitan State University has enrollment of approximately 800 veterans, one-third of whom are women. Over 11,000 veterans are enrolled in MnSCU.

“Our goal is to serve as a catalyst, resource and inspiration for the community through entrepreneurial education. The entrepreneurship minor has been expanded to provide the

knowledge, mindset, and opportunity to students that can make a real difference in their lives” said Dr. Denise E. Williams, assistant professor in entrepreneurship and organizational behavior, College of Management, who serves as project director.

Registration for the workshop is now open on Metropolitan State University’s website. Space is limited to 50 women veterans and service members and going fast.

For more information about “Build Your Dream Day” and the participating panelists, contact Dr. Denise E. Williams at [email protected].

Metropolitan State University, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, is America’s premier university for lifelong learning, providing unsurpassed, competitive academic and professional degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels while maintaining affordability.